Clare Martin faces new challenges

The former NT Chief Minister, Clare Martin has spoken about the difficulties she faces in her new role as the CEO of the Australian Council Of Social Service.

She says the global financial crisis has added to the pressures of the job.

Ms Martin says with a world recession looming, finding solutions for the hundred thousand people who are homeless in Australia has become a much more challenging task.

She says with the average Australian household set for an $11 a week rise in the cost of power, many more Australians are going to hit hard times.

"My first thoughts about the job were that I was working with a federal government which had a very healthy surplus and I was looking at some major initiatives in terms of tackling those intransigent problems we have. However, the whole sitaution has now shifted.

"It was always an important task, but I feel it's actually become a much more important task in these uncertain times."